Affair of the jaded P.M.

Press, 25 May 1977, Page 1

Affair of the jaded P.M.

A carved jade bust of the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) and a $36,000 diamond ring are among 200 exhibits in the 1977 Jewellery Fair which opens in Christchurch today. The fair is organised annually by Nicholas Jewellers, Ltd, Gloucester Street, and Silver Jeweller, Ltd, Colombo Street. The exhibits have been brought together by the owner of the shops, Mr J. Tulloch, who toured New Zealand to find the most unusual and expensive pieces. Although many of the exhibits have been lent from private collections, many are for sale. On Thursday and Friday Mr Peter Minturn, a leading Auckland jeweller, will provide individual jewellery designs for the public on request. Included in the fair are several jade pieces from a

private collection which were carved on the West Coast. Besides the conventional green jade is a delicate cameo carved in white and green jade, and a frog carved in brown and green jade. A hand-made, 22-carat gold dragon ring set with diamonds and with ruby eyes, is among the unusual exhibits. The ring, owned by an Auckland woman, is from Thailand. Other exhibits include a $25,000 diamond ring, a collection of precious and semi-precious stones valued at about $20,000, life-size lead crystal replicas of the world’s largest diamonds, and lead crystal replicas showing the diamond cutting process. The jewellery is on display at the two shops. To maintain security, they are under constant surveillance. Radar detectors have been installed.